Bianca Andreescu becomes first Canadian to win Rogers Cup in 50 years after injury forces Serena Williams out

Bianca Andreescu won a tight game against superstar Serena Williams after the tearful American was forced to retire with a back injury in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday.The victory made the 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont. is the first Canadian to win the Rogers Cup in 50 years, after Faye Urban of Windsor, Ont., won in 1969.“I’m speechless right now,” Andreescu told the Aviva Centre crowd in Toronto during her celebratory ceremony on the court. “This been a dream come true, really.”This been a dream come true, reallyIn the opening game of the match, Williams survived a break point to hold onto her serve but Andreescu grabbed an early break for a 2-1 lead.Andreescu then consolidated her break to move 3-1 up at which point Williams, who hopes to chase her 24th career Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, immediately moved to her chair where she broke down in tears.“I’m sorry I couldn’t do it today. I tried but I just couldn’t do it,” an emotional Williams, who struggled to get the words out, told the crowd.“It’s been a tough year but we’ll keep going.”

Canada’s Bianca Andreescu consoles Serena Williams of the USA after Williams had to retire from the final of the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019.

Frank Gunn /

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Andreescu will move from 27th to 14th in the world rankings after snatching her second WTA Premier title this season.The 37-year-old Williams, whose competitive action this year has been severely limited because of knee issues, declared herself pain-free ahead of the tournament, which she was hoping to use as a springboard for the rest of her hardcourt swing.But the six-times U.S. Open champion, still without a title since returning from maternity leave in 2018, now faces her latest setback with the year’s final Grand Slam just two weeks away. As Williams sat dejected in her chair, Andreescu, who is no stranger to injury setbacks, went over to console her. The pair embraced and had a heartfelt conversation during which the former could be heard talking about back spasms.“I feel for Serena so much. I’ve been through so much the last year with injury so I am so sorry she had to go out this way,” the 19-year-old said during the trophy ceremony.“Sometimes, you can’t push your body and she couldn’t today and I wish her a fast recovery.”Andreescu, who shot to prominence with her Indian Wells triumph in March and was competing this week for the first time since withdrawing from the French Open with a shoulder injury, is the first Canadian to win the event in 50 years.